The Orlando smartcenter 2nd Anniversary Party
Saturday January 30, 2010
The Orlando 2nd Anniversary Party-Open to all smart owners and enthusiasts will take place on January 30, 2010. This “not-to-be-missed” event we hope will be even bigger and better than last year’s event which attracted 207 smart cars.
This year’s event is not just a smart car show, meet and greet and party but will also offer the opportunity to
showcase your driving skills and your smart car handling! The event will be held on the grounds of The Central Florida Racing Complex which opened this year to provide racing enthusiasts the opportunity to test their skills in a safe and controlled environment and off the public roads and highways.
The facility includes an autocross track and an eighth mile drag strip with starting tree and both with electronic timers.
All attendees will have the chance to test their skills on both tracks and compete for best time against their fellow smart owners.
The Central Florida Racing Complex hosts public racing every Thursday and Friday night from 7:00PM to Midnight and Saturdays from 7:00PM till 2:00AM.
Through a special arrangement with smartcenter Orlando the Complex will open from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Saturday January 30 for our exclusive use for our anniversary party. At 7:00PM the gates will open to the general public and we will continue to party and showcase our cars during the evening public racing session.
During our exclusive time period we will be able to put our smart cars through the paces on the autocross course working the curves and avoiding the cones marking the course. These will be electronically timed runs competing for best time or if you wish just providing the opportunity to test your own skills and comfort with the course. Then at 6:00PM we will line up at the 1/8 mile drag strip to test our abilities in the straight, speed run.
In addition to the racing and cheering your fellow smart owners on we have the following activities planned:
1. There will be a group photo taken at the beginning of the event with all of the smart cars lined up on the Drag Strip, 6 cars wide. The shot will be taken from an elevated position and we will have poster prints available after the event for a modest cost.
2. There will be reserved parking for the smart cars for the entire afternoon and evening next to the Drag Strip.
3. We will be inviting a number of accessory vendors to come out and offer their products for sale.
4. We will have a DJ playing music for everyone’s enjoyment throughout the afternoon.
5. There will be door prize drawings.
6. We will award trophies for the 5 fastest times on the autocross course and for the 5 fastest times on the Drag Strip.
7. We are planning on having a 2010 smart car on display.
There is a significant expense to renting and staffing the complex for our exclusive use so the party will include a smartcenter subsidized fee to Central Florida Racing Complex of
$20.00 for a Car and Driver and $10.00 for a passenger or guest. This fee will include the party, parking, all racing you may choose to participate in as well as full spectator entry to the public racing later that night. Fees will be payable at the entrance to the facility.
The facility includes restrooms, some bleacher seating by the Drag Strip and a Snack Bar selling drinks, as well as Burgers, Hot Dogs, Chicken Fingers, Fries etc. The snack bar will be open throughout the event so you may eat what and when you prefer and the owners are arranging a few special menu prices for our group.
I suggest you bring camp chairs and you may want to bring some beverages but
no glass bottles are permitted on the complex and no alcohol is allowed. We would ask that you not bring food and instead use the available snack bar in support of them staffing the complex just for us.
Anyone wishing to race will be required to sign a liability waiver before taking part. It is the tracks experience that many people come out planning to just observe the racing but once watching it deciding to give it a try. We believe that will be the case with many of you as well.
I happen to know that Julie Morelli, Manager of the smartcenter has experience with her smart on the drag strip so we may have a “beat Julie” challenge going on as well.
Finally, on the same property but under separate management is a Go Cart Track with 50 MPH Go Carts for rent. Believe me 50 MPH on the closed road course they have will give you all of the excitement you can handle. The Go Cart operation is open during daylight hours so if you want to give it a try come out early and for I think a $25 fee you can try racing on the seat of your pants.
We are also working on a special hotel rate at a very nice hotel near the Orlando, Airport. I will update this information as soon as we have a rate quote.
This event is an open event. All smart car owners and enthusiasts are invited and advanced registration is not required but is recommended. Please send me an e-mail at kwagar@tampabay.rr.com to let me know if you are planning to attend. This will allow us to anticipate the size of the crowd, ensure proper staffing and prepare the proper parking areas and access to the autocross course and drag strip. It will also allow me to provide you with event updates, directions and hotel accommodations if necessary.
Help us set a new smart car event record and sign up today for this exciting event!
Linear Mode
